Means for securing the ends of tie means



June 30, 1964 D. B. MATHES MEANS FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF TIE MEANS Filed March 19, 1962 INVENTOR. DURANT B. MATHES ATTORNEY roughened ball.

United States Patent 3,138,839 MEANS FGR SECURING THE ENDS 0F TIE MEANS Durant B. Mathes, 2614 Litchfield, Wichita, Kans. Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,455 Claims. (Cl. 24-117) This invention relates to means for securing the ends of tie means and in a more specific aspect the invention relates to means for receiving and holding the ends of tie means and permitting movement of both ends of the tie means in one direction therethrough simultaneously and preventing the ends to be moved in the opposite direction simultaneously. In another aspect the invention relates to means for receiving the ends of a shoe lace or the like and for holding same tightly in place on a shoe and for means for positioning and holding the end portions of the lace.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application Means for Securing the Ends of Tie Means, filed April 4, 1960, Serial No. 19,821, now Patent Number 3,086,267.

Various means for securing the ends of tie means are known to the prior art. Tie holding means are known which are constructed of a single body member and must have the interior thereof hollow and irregularly shaped, which is a difiicult process in manufacturing. Some of the devices of the prior art have long tapered sides on the interior of the body to accommodate a wedging element therein which is constructed and adapted to engage and hold the tie means and prevent accidental removal therefrom in one direction. These elongated tapered surfaces require the tie means to be relatively long and such are bulky and sometimes unacceptable commercially due to their size, particularly when used with shoe laces and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, new means for securing the ends of tie means are provided which include a hollow body member constructed of a plurality of portions with a hole in one of the portions and at least one opening in the other of the portions communicating with the hollow of the body member. A movable element is positioned within the body member and is operable to engage tie means passing therethrough and wedge same against the body member in operation when the tie means are urged in one direction through the body member. Means are provided with the body member defining holding means for the ends of the tie means.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, the means are designed for securing shoe laces, and the means are preferably made in two portions, a base and a cap. The base and cap preferably have c11annel-shaped recesses to receive the ends of the shoe laces to keep them from contacting the ground when in tied condition. A particularly shaped hole in the base in use receives a knurled or roughened ball, the shoe laces passing through the hole and being held in desired engagement by the In use, the ends of the shoe laces pass through spaced holes in the cap and then through the aperture formed by the channels in the base and cap referred to hereinbefore. The invention has proven to be very reliable in use, and can be manufactured and merchandised economically and efiiciently.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved construction of means for securing the ends of tie means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new means for securing the ends of tie means which includes means to hold the outermost ends of tie means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new construction for means for securing the ends of tie means wherein the means can be relatively thin and small in comparison with prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing the ends of tie means which are relatively inexpensive to construct and assemble.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a preferred specific embodiment of the improved means for securing the ends of tie means of the invention having the ends of a shoe lace or the like therewith.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 with the shoe laces removed.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 with the shoe lace removed.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the new means for securing the ends of tie means of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the means for securing the ends of tie means of the invention is shown generally at 10 and is preferably constructed of two separate portions including a base 12 and a cap 14 which are shaped on the outer edges thereof to when rigidly secured together form a hexagonal body. The base 12 desirably has a preferably channel-shaped recess 16 formed therein which extends thereacross adjacent and parallel to one edge 18 of the body member on the upper surface 20 of the base and in facing relation to the lower surface 22 of the cap 14. The cap 14 preferably has a channel-shaped recess 24 on the lower surface 22 thereof extending thereacross adjacent and parallel to the edge 18 of the body and is positioned in facing relation to the recess 16 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. A slot 26 is formed between the edge 18 of the body and the recesses 16 and 24. The recesses 16 and 24 and the slot 26 preferably extend entirely across the edge 18 and intersect the adjacent sides or edges of the device.

The base 12 and cap 14 are preferably provided with cooperating means to hold the portions of the body in assembled relation. Preferably these means include the posts 30 and 32 on the base 12 and the recesses or openings 34 and 36 in the cap 14, the posts preferably projecting upwardly from the upper surface 20 of the base 12 and positioned on opposite edge portions thereof and matingly received in the recesses or openings '54 and 36 in the lower surface 22 of the cap 14. If desired, the posts 30 and 32 can be slightly larger than the openings 34 and 36, respectively, and/or tapered over a part of their surface to be held in the openings or recesses in a tight fit. Also, the application of heat can be used to seal or secure the posts in position in the recesses when the device 10 is made of a suitable plastic material. If desired, the various portions of the body can be cemented in assembled relation.

The base 12 has a hole therethrough from the lower surface 40 thereof to the upper surface 20 thereof. The hole is generally centrally located and is of size to receive therethrough the ends of tie means to be held thereby.

over the hole in the base 12 and extends therearound and is larger in diameter than the opening of the hole in the upper surface 20 of the base 12. The hollow in the cap 14 is preferably defined by a generally cylindrical wall 46 opening to the bottom surface 22 of the cap 14 and a generally semispherical upper surface 48.

Two apertures 50 and 52 are provided in the cap 14 and are preferably positioned in spaced relation and open into the hollow of the cap 14 through the semispherical upper surface 48. Desirably the openings or apertures 50 and 52 are positioned at diametrically opposite portions of the semispherical surface 4-8 and each are of size to receive therethrough an end of the tie means. 7

A wedging element 54 is positioned in the hollow of the body and in operation engages and wedges the tie means between the element 54 and the tapered surfaces 42 and 44 of the hole in the base 12. The wedging element 54 is preferably generally spherical in shape and has a knurled or roughened outer surface to aid in gripping and holding the tie means. The roughened surface of the spherical element 54 should be smooth enough so that the tie means can be passed therethrough from the base 12 through the cap 14 and rough enough to frictionally engage and grip the tie means when urged in the opposite direction. This roughened surface can be provided in any suitable manner, and it has been found that a metallic spherical element can be suitably roughened by rotating same between a fiat surface and the surface of a file. The wedging element 54 is preferably of a size so that it will not pass through the hole in the base 12 or through the apertures 50 and 52 in the cap 14.

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates the means of the invention when used with the ends of a shoe lace 65) which is in the usual fixed position in eyelets 62 of a shoe or the like 64. The ends 66 and 68 of the lace 60 are both passed through the hole in the base 12 and the opening or aperture 50 in cap 14 has received one end 66 of the lace 60 and the opening 52 has received the other end 68 of the lace 60. When the lace ends are inserted through the base 12 they are then separated and individually passed through the apertures 50 and 52 and this upward movement through the means causes displacement of the spherical element 54 upwardly into the hollow of the cap and the ends 66 and 68 of the lace 60 pass freely therethrough. The preferred shape of the hole in base 12 permits the wedging element 54 to be placed out of the interfering way of the lace ends with a minimum of movement. The free and unrestricted movement of the laces upwardly through the device is further facilitated by the hollow of the cap and the relatively wide spacing of the apertures 50 and 52 which prevent wedging of the laces between the spherical element and the upper surface of the hollow of the body. The ends of the lace are then preferably placed in the recesses 16 and 24 to prevent them from contacting the ground.

The lace 60 is held tightly in place on the shoe 64 since any tendency of the ends 66 and 68 of the lace 60 to be moved downwardly through the apertures 50 and 52 and out through the hole in the base 12 is prevented by the spherical element 54 whose surface is contacted by the laces as they tend to move outwardly through the hole in the base 12 and the wedging element 54 is urged into the hole and wedges the lace 60 between the element 54 and the surfaces 42 and 44 of the hole in the base 12 and thus effectively prevents any accidental or inadvertent removal of the lace relative to the body 10. When it is desired to remove the lace, one of the ends 66 or 68 is pulled outwardly through the apertures in the cap 14 and this causes displacement of the spherical element 54 upwardly toward the cap and the other of the ends of the lace 60 can then be moved outwardly through the aperture in the cap 14 and through the hole in the base 12. This process is repeated until both of the ends of the lace 66 have been removed. The device of the invention can be used with tie means other than shoe laces and the operation will be the same as that described hereinbefore.

The base 12 and cap portion 14 of the means of the invention are preferably molded from a suitable plastic material to reduce the cost of manufacture and result in an attractive, smoothly finished article. The various elements can be made of other materials, if desired.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that such discussion and description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a base and a cap shaped and rigidly secured together to form a hexagonal body member, said base having a channel-shaped recess formed therein extending thereacross adjacent and parallel to one edge of said body member on the upper surface of said base in facing relation to the lower surface of said cap, said cap having a channel-shaped recess therein in said lower surface thereof extending thereacross adjacent and parallel to said one edge of said body member in facing relation to said first-named recess, said body member having a slot between said one edge of said body member and said recesses, two upwardly projecting posts on said upper surface of said base and positioned in opposite edge portions thereof and matingly received in openings in said lower surface of said cap to secure said base and said cap in assembled relation, said base having a hole therethrough from the lower surface to said upper surface thereof of a size to receive therethrough the ends of tie means, said hole being larger at said upper surface than at said lower surface and tapered uniformly from said upper surface to an intermediate portion of said base and uniformly tapered relatively sharply from said lower surface to said intermediate portion of said base, said cap having an enlarged hollow positioned over said hole in said base and extending therearound and being larger in diameter than said hole, said hollow of said cap being cylindrical at the lower portion thereof and having a semi-spherical top portion overlying said hole, said cap having two openings therethrough into said semi-spherical upper portion of said hollow therein and of a size to receive therethrough the ends of tie means, and a generally spherical element within said body member and positionable in said hole and said hollow therein, said spherical element having a roughened outer surface and being of a diameter greater than said hole in said base and said apertures in said cap, said means eing constructed and adapted so that the ends of two tie means can be passed through said hole in said base and through said apertures in said cap so that when said tie means are both urged toward said hole said spherical element engages same and wedges same between said spherical element and said base to prevent accidental removal of said tie means therefrom, and movement of one of said tie means toward said cap moves said spherical element toward said cap and permits movement of the other of said tie means outwardly through said hole in said base, the ends of said tie means being positionable and held in said channel-shaped recesses.

2. Means for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a body member having a base and a cap, said body member having a slot in one edge thereof opening to the sides adjacent said edge and of a size to receive and hold therein the ends of tie means, a plurality of posts on said base matingly received in openings in said cap to hold same in assembled relation, said base having a hole therethrough from the lower surface thereof to the upper surface thereof and of a size to receive therethrough the ends of tie means, said hole being larger at said upper surface than at said lower surface and being uniformly tapered from said upper surface to an intermediate portion of said base and uniformly tapered relatively sharply from said lower surface to said intermediate portion of said base, said cap being hollow and having a spherical surface overlying said hole in said base and having two apertures therethrough in said spherical surface of a size to receive and pass therethrough the ends of tie means, and a roughened spherical element within said body member and positionable in said hole in said hollow therein and of a diameter greater than said hole and said apertures in said cap, said means being constructed and adapted so that the ends of tie means can be passed through said hole in said base and through said apertures in said cap so that when said tie means are urged toward said hole said spherical element engages same and wedges same between said spherical element and said base to prevent movement thereof, and movement of one of said tie means toward said cap moves said spherical element toward said cap and permits movement of the other of said tie means outwardly through said hole in said base, the ends of said tie means being positionable and held in said slot in said body member.

3. Means for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a base having a cap mounted thereon and forming therewith a body member, said body member having a recess therein of a size to receive and hold the ends of tie means, said base of said body member having a hole therethrough from the lower surface to the upper surface thereof of a size to receive therethrough the ends of tie means, said hole being larger at said upper surface thereof than at said lower surface thereof and being uniformly tapered from said upper surface to an intermediate portion of said base and uniformly tapered therefrom to said lower surface at a different and greater angle to form a generally frusto-conical surface, said cap being hollow and having a spherical surface overlying said hole in said base, said cap having two apertures therethrough in spaced relation intersecting said spherical surface and of a size to receive therethrough tie means, and a spherical element within said body member positionable in said hole and said hollow therein and of a size to be retained therein, the outer surface of said spherical element being rough and contructed to frictionally engage tie means passing therethrough, said means being constructed and adapted to receive and pass therethrough the ends of tie means with said spherical element engageable with same to wedge same against said base and hold same therein when said tie means are urged toward said lower surface of said base with said spherical element being moved into said hollow of 'said cap upon movement of said tie means outwardly through said openings therein.

4. A device for removably securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a hollow body member having two portions with said portions having post means and recesses cooperating when securing said portions in assembled relation, said body member having a hole in one of said portions and a plurality of spaced openings in another of said portions with said hole and said openings extending from the outer surface of said body member into said hollow of said body member and being of a size to receive and pass therethrough tie means, the surface of said body member defining said hole being tapered from said hollow to an intermediate portion of said surface defining said hole and being tapered at a different and greater angle from said intermediate portion of said surface defining said hole to said outer surface of said body member with said hole being larger at said hollow of, said body member than at said outer surface of said body member, a movable element positioned Within the hollow of said body member and having an outer surface adapted to frictionally engage tie means in passing through said body member and Wedge said tie means against said body member when said tie means are urged in one direction through said body member, and means on said body member defining holding means for the ends of tie means.

5. A device for removably securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a hollow body member having a hole in one portion of said body member and a plurality of spaced openings in another portion of said body member with said hole and said openings extending between said hollow of said body member and the outer surface of said body member, the surface defining said hole in said body member being tapered at an angle from said hollow to an intermediate portion thereof and tapered therefrom to said outer surface of said body member at a different and greater angle to form a generally frusto-conical surface, a movable element positioned within said hollow of said body member and having an outer surface adapted to frictionally engage tie means passing therethrough and Wedge said tie means against said body member when said tie means are urged in one direction through said body member, and means on said body member defining holding means for the ends of tie means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,587 Isberg May 14, 1912 1,618,901 Woolman Feb. 22, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,508 Germany Dec. 29, 1934 663,136 Germany July 29, 1938 

5. A DEVICE FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE ENDS OF TIE MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER HAVING A HOLE IN ONE PORTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED OPENINGS IN ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER WITH SAID HOLE AND SAID OPENINGS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID HOLLOW OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER, THE SURFACE DEFINING SAID HOLE IN SAID BODY MEMBER BEING TAPERED AT AN ANGLE FROM SAID HOLLOW TO AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF AND TAPERED THEREFROM TO SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER AT A DIFFERENT AND GREATER ANGLE TO FORM A GENERALLY FRUSTO-CONICAL SURFACE, A MOVABLE ELEMENT POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND HAVING AN 